Slide fastener



.Apri1'2o, 194s. MGRAB@ 2,440,086

SLIDE FASTENER Filed April 26, 1944 I N VEN TOR.

.Maga/zaal Gr'aboi.

MORA/sy Patented Apr. 20, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT" `0Fp|l5g- Michael Grralici, New YorkpN. Y. y( vApplicationApril 26, 1944, Serial No. 532,809

. l Vl This invention relates provements in a slide fastener.

More particularly, it is proposed toV construct an improved slide fastener which is characterized by an improved pair of stringers. yIt is contemplated to constructeach stringer .of a bendable strip, such asa strip of cloth, and a plurality of equally spaced flexible stems with spherical heads attached on and projecting `at right angles from said strip of cloth. These flexible stems and spherical heads preferably are constructed of plastic material, though metal and other materials may be used as well.

It is proposed to construct each spherical head with a circumferential groove andto locate the projecting stem at one point on said groove.

The invention also contemplates an arrangement so that the grooves of the spherical heads receive and vreleasibly hold stems` of adjacent spherical heads. It is proposed to so arrange these parts to securely hold the slide fastener in its closed position.

A slide is provided for engaging and disengaging the spherical heads and flexible stems of the slide fastener. g

Another object of the invention is the construction of a device as mentioned which is simple and durable and which may Ybe manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension; of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference willbe had to the following descrptionand accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a slide fastener constructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of one of the flexible stems with its spherical head.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a spherical head with its flexible stem constructed in accordance with a modified form of this invention.

The slide fastener, in accordance with the form of the invention disclosed in Figs. l through 4 inclusive, includes a pair of cooperative stringers IIl. Each Stringer I0 includes a bendable strip I I, preferably of cloth, and a plurality of equally comms. (C1. 24A- 205)l to new` and useful im- Y' spaced flexible stems I2 Vattached to and projecting at right angles from the ystrip III. A spherical head I3 is provided for-each stem I2 and has a circumferential groove I4 andA is rigidly connected at one point upon `the end of `the stem I2.

Each spherical head' I3 and flexible stem I2 preferably is constructed-.of vplastic material, metal or other strong-.materials having some flexibility; Aplurality'ofradiating slits I5 are formed upon the sphericalhe'ad I3 and extend inwards from the sides `of the circumferential groove I4. These slits I5 divide off portions I5a (see Fig. 4) of thespherical heads between the slits, which portions are capable of individually flexing outwards ls0 very slightly so as to receive, catch and hold, and release,` when necessary the adjacent stemsIZ ofV adjacentispheroal heads. The stems I2 arespaced from each other a distance which permits mating of adjacent stringers I0, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The stems I2 are attached Vto thelbendable strips I0' by stitches I6, or other-ways. 9 g .I

In' Fig'. 5 a modified construction of spherical head .I 3' and stemtI 2' isdisclosed. This spherical head I3'v is provided .with a circumferential groove I4' which Vis squarelike in transversesection`r and which has its sides formed with under cuts I 'I.V The slitsf I5=-extend inwards to these under vcuts ILu VThis.arrangement gives more residiency .to those portions ofthe spherical head I3 between the Yslits |55.:V In other respectsthis form of the invention is identical. to the previous form and like'parts' are identified by likereference numerals.

Each stem I2 has its faces formed with longitudinal grooves 2| complementary to the sides of the groove I4 so that the material of the side walls of the groove I4 may catch and hold the stems.

A slide '20 is used in conjunction with the pair of strlngers I0 as is usual in a slide fastener. When the slide 2U is moved up it draws together and inter-engages the adjacent stringers III. When it is moved down it separates them.

The inter-engaged position of the stringers I0 is one in which each pair of adjacent heads I3 of one of the stringers I0 stagger, that is, are located to the sides of a head of the other Stringer III. The staggered heads I3 receive the stem I2, and the stem I2 engages into and is caught and held in the groove I4.

When the slide fastener is closed, the slide 20 forces the stems'I2 into the grooves I4 so that portions of the grooves I4 between the slits I5 are wedged open and then engage the groove 2| of the stems l2. This inter-engagement assists in holding the slide fastener closed.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming Within the scope of the invention as deiineddn thetappended claims.

Having'f-thusgj: described r my invention, what *I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A slide fastener, comprising a pair of cooperative stringers, each consisting of a:ber1d'z able strip, a plurality of equally spaced iiexible stems attached to and projecting at'ri'ghtangles from said strip, and a sphericaliheazdidivided by a plurality of radiating slits into several por- 2i complementary to said jaw-like portions so that these parts may be inter-engaged when the slide fastener is closed.

5. A slide fastener, comprising a pair of cooperative stringers, each consisting of a bendable strip, a plurality of equally spaced flexible stems attached to and projecting at right angles from said strip, and a spherical head on each stemand havingca circumferential groove connected at onepoint ofsaidgrooveewiththe extremity of said stem, and" said head having a .plurality of slits extending radially of said circumferential groove to divide oil? resilient jawlikeiportions, and said stems having grooves these parts'may be inter-engaged when the slide fastener is. closed, and said circumferential tions on each stem andhaving a circuiriferential` groove connected at onepoint of said groove with anrextremity of saidrstem.r

2.`-A"slide fastener;comprisingsaz pair fof.y cooperative -:stringers, f each'rconsistingrof: a lbendable strip, =a:. plurality :of kequally spaced Yliexible stems attached tofandiprojectingfat right angles fiomsaidcstrip; an'dna spherical head 5 divided lby a =plurality'of radiating1slitsintofseveral; portions onI leach' stem #and shaving :sa lcircumferential groove connectedeat'onerpcinirot .said groovenw-ith the 'extremityfof sardistempisaidzaspherical :head and'stems being fof' material #which Yis far plastic, and ,integral witheachfother.-

'f3. 'A :slide 'fastenergfcomprising ya pair kof rcooperative estrin'gers:feachrconsistingfoffa; bendable strip,fa plurality'off-'equallyt spacedflexibleV stems attachedrlto andwprojecting atvfrightzangles from said'strip;andfasphericalhead orreach stem Vand having v'acircumferential i groove connected at one point 1 of 'saidagroovefzwviththe' extremity "of said stem, and 'said headi having :a xplurality of slits i exten-ding radially of wsaidfcircumferential groove to divide olf resilient jawlikezfportions.

4; 'Af-slide fastener,comprising:a pairfof fcooperative stringa-s;:each-consisting-:zof: a bendV` able strip; f affpluralityeoi equally r spaced flexible stems attached to andifpz-'ojectingeatright fangles fromJ said-f strip, -andfia-efspherical .l head on': each stem andfhaving a-rcircuniferential#groove connected fat one point 'of said fgroove withthef ex'- tremity Y of -1 said stem, azrdfzsaidfhead "having fa plurality: of slits-extending "radially .of said circumferential :groove 'lton divide iroiffaresilient jawlike portions, /andwsa-id'rstems :having *grooves groove having under cuts to give more resiliency toitheparts between said slits.

6. A slide fastener consisting of two flexible strips, `each strip vrbeing 4'provided fwithcparallel stems projecting from `one. edge of fthe.r strip'f'land each stem havingf-V a spherical'hea'dlon :itstouter end :for-med* with l:a rcircumferential :grooveidiaving undercut side walls 1 andra.l stem f end which extends into i said groove, the stem renls .fof :one flexible strip being. received -zbyi the fgrooves'sof the sphericalheads vof the stems: ofxtheL other flexible strip,v said stem'rendsrof-onefflexiblezstrip being4 adapted4 to: be :vv/edged fbetweentl'iemmiercut :side rwalis :otztheg grooved heads fofi the cope, posing "flexible strip, .fand a slide mounted nto move on the stems of bothi'lexiblefstrips tofcause the heads of the steinsroffone' l'exiblel-stripito interlock with lthe 'heads :ofthe stems of the otherflexible strip, andftoscausessaid stemands to 'enter Athe grooves of :.thef'oppositerheads.

MICHAEL .GRABOL REFERENCEscrrED Y v The following references are-ofi'record-inrthe iileoffthisvpatent: I r

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name -Date` f' Breitenstein July 10,-.1928 vlritts .r ,Jul-yA 21,:1-936 FOREIGN 'PATENTS Country .Date Great-Britain- May-:17, .1928 France; Feb. 27, :1939

Number A1,676,630 l 2,048,544.n

Number 283,465 842;168 

